Chapter 14: Perilous Exploration of the Forbidden Realm

The moment Yun Yao stepped into the mist, a chilling coldness swept over her, accompanied by eerie whispers that seemed like countless ghosts murmuring right beside her ears, sending a shiver down her spine.

Instinctively, she clenched her fists tightly, her fingertips turning pale. The surrounding fog seemed to come alive, twisting like invisible tendrils wrapping around her, suffocating her with an overwhelming sense of dread.

As Yun Yao cautiously scanned her surroundings, several dark figures suddenly burst forth from the mist. They were monstrous creatures resembling phantoms, their bodies twisted and grotesque, eyes gleaming with bloodthirsty light.

The beasts let out piercing screeches, the sound slicing through the air like sharp winds as they lunged ferociously at Yun Yao.

Refusing to underestimate them, Yun Yao swiftly gathered her spiritual energy and swung her longsword. Sharp arcs of sword energy infused with potent spells slashed toward the monsters.

The clash between sword energy and razor claws rang out with harsh metallic screeches, sparks flying with every impact.

Yet these creatures were unnervingly agile, their forms flickering like ghosts, effortlessly evading her strikes.

After dodging the attacks, the monsters launched another fierce assault, their claws slicing through the air like blades, producing a chilling whooshing sound that made one’s scalp tingle.

A strong sense of danger pressed upon Yun Yao; she dared not meet their blows head-on, instead relying on nimble footwork to weave among the monsters while searching for an opening to counterattack.

The battle grew increasingly intense. Trees around them shook violently from the force of spiritual energy, cracking and snapping as leaves fluttered down and dust swirled in the air.

Startled woodland creatures scattered in all directions, their panicked cries echoing through the forest.

Yun Yao found herself struggling. The monsters were not only numerous but also incredibly fast and powerful. Each clash sent numbness coursing through her arms.

Just as she was overwhelmed, one creature halted its skirmish and circled behind her, its sharp claws aimed straight at her back.

“Watch out!” An anxious voice rang in her ear — none other than Jun Mohan, who appeared like a ghost behind her. He swiftly pulled Yun Yao into his embrace, narrowly avoiding the monster’s lethal claws.

In the next instant, a faint smile of triumph flickered across Jun Mohan’s lips.

Shielding Yun Yao behind him, he swung his longsword in a relentless dance, forging an impenetrable barrier of sword energy. The icy gleam of his blade repelled the attackers one by one.

Seizing the moment to steady herself, Yun Yao took a deep breath, focused her mind, and silently chanted an incantation to activate her mind-reading technique.

“Left side, left side, tear her apart!” she clearly heard the hoarse thoughts of the monsters. Instantly, she dodged to the right, narrowly evading a claw that shot out from the thick fog.

That claw brushed perilously close to her cheek. Yun Yao could feel the chilling aura trailing from its tip, making her shudder involuntarily.

While evading, she reversed her longsword, its blade flashing with dazzling golden light. Seizing the perfect moment, she thrust her sword into the monster’s abdomen.

A piercing, pitiful scream erupted from the beast as it twisted and dissolved into a swirl of black mist.

Yun Yao exhaled in relief, a surge of accomplishment swelling within her. Successfully using mind-reading in actual combat for the first time greatly boosted her confidence.

But the respite was brief. More monsters surged from the mist, their howls rising and falling like demons from the abyss, chilling to the bone.

Once more, Yun Yao was plunged into fierce combat. She swung her longsword, sword energy weaving through the air, yet she felt increasingly powerless.

Her magical reserves were depleting rapidly. Fatigue weighed on her limbs, her arms tingled painfully, and the hand gripping her sword began to tremble.

The fog thickened, obscuring her vision. She could only rely on her mind-reading to barely discern the monsters’ positions.

She felt trapped in an immense cage, enemies pressing in from every side with no escape. Despair began to seep into her heart.

“Hold on, Yao’er!” Jun Mohan’s voice echoed through the mist, distant but steady.

Gritting her teeth, Yun Yao forced herself to push forward. She knew she couldn’t give up, yet a thought surfaced in her mind: perhaps it was time to use that item...

“Jun Mohan...” she whispered softly, her hand reaching slowly to her waist where a delicate pouch hung.

Her fingertips brushed against the cold silk strings of the pouch—a treasured magical artifact bestowed by the elders of the Immortal Sect, containing power enough to turn the tide of fate.

Conflicted, she hesitated. This treasure was her ultimate trump card; revealing it too soon might bring unnecessary trouble.

But now, trapped in mortal peril, with the monsters’ howls like death knells and their sharp claws brushing constantly against her clothes, carrying the scent of death, she felt the numbness creeping through her arms.

Sweat blurred her vision as exhaustion surged like a tidal wave, gnawing at her will.

She clenched her jaw tightly, heartbeat pounding like drums. Every breath felt like fire scorching her lungs, her cheeks flushed from tension, yet her eyes shone with unyielding resolve.

“I can’t fall here!” she growled fiercely, like a wild beast cornered and desperate.

She recalled the heart demon trial, where in the face of utter desperation, she had survived again and again through sheer willpower and masterful use of spiritual energy.

Casting aside all distractions, Yun Yao poured her spiritual power into her longsword. Instantly, the blade was engulfed in fierce flames.

No longer merely defending, she launched a bold counterattack.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!” Her sword sliced the air, fiery sword energy sweeping across the monsters like a raging storm.

The beasts were caught off guard by this sudden burst of power, their fearful screeches rising as their movements slowed.

Seizing the advantage, Yun Yao spun her sword, tracing intricate arcane patterns. Flames braided into an immense net, engulfing all the monsters before her.

“Ahhh!” The scent of burning flesh filled the air as the fire met their bodies. The creatures writhed in agony before dissolving into wisps of black smoke.

The assault eased. Yun Yao stood her ground, chest heaving violently, sweat soaking her clothes, her body burning as if placed inside a furnace.

A profound pride swelled within her. This was the first time she had wielded the techniques from the heart demon trial so skillfully in real combat.

Though the fog remained thick around her, a fire kindled within her heart, banishing fear and steeling her resolve to delve deeper into the forbidden land.

She pressed onward, the mist gradually thinning until a cave emerged before her eyes.

The entrance was an irregular oval, its jagged edges covered in damp moss emitting a strong stench of decay.

From deep within the cave, strange eerie lights flickered and danced like beasts lurking in the dark, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

A cold, sinister aura emanated from its depths, sending chills down Yun Yao’s spine.

After a brief hesitation, she stepped forward, moving toward the cave.

“I want to see what lies inside this cave,” she murmured softly.